For the first time, we discovered birds doing math

Not only are they able to remember and find great paths, doves can also count and compare the number of objects.

That is the conclusion of researchers at Otago University (New Zealand) after finding pigeons capable of comparing the number of objects (from 1-9 maximum) in each pair of images and arranging them In order from small to big.

The scientists repeated the experiment used to study Indian brown monkey in 1998. First, pigeons were trained to recognize 35 sets of images, each consisting of 3 pictures, each consisting of 1 to 3 objects with different sizes, shapes and colors, in ascending order. Doves will be rewarded when they peck on the picture containing the number of objects in the order of 1-3.

Doves can arrange pictures according to the number of objects increase.

After that, scientists increase the difficulty by increasing the number of objects in each picture. This time, the pictures are divided into pairs, each picture has 1-9 objects. In this second experiment, the larger the difference between the number of objects in each pair of images, the more accurate the pigeons are determined.

Since then, scientists have concluded that any object of any color or shape, pigeons can distinguish the number of objects. If they are taught as 2 greater than 1, they can identify 8 greater than 5.

This shows that animals with a different brain structure than humans can still perform complex intellectual tasks that people previously thought could only be done.